Contour transfer device



H. G. COOPER CONTOUR TRANSFER DEVICE Fi led Oct. 11. 1949 F/ II Ila "nnnnnnnnnfnnnnnnnn Dec. 16, 1952 Enventor; H. a. COOPER,

(Ittornega Patented Dec. 16, i952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE @QNTOUR TRANSFER DEVICE Earner G. Cooper, Cody, Wyo.

Application October 11, 1949, Serial No. 120,751

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to contour transfer devices of the type wherein a plurality of spaced fingers or feelers are slidably mounted in a holder, the movement of the fingers being such that the tips thereof assume variable positions with respect to a common level, so as to conform to the contour of items whose shape is to be repro duced.

Devices of this type customarily provide a looking arrangement for the fingers, thereby making it possible to temporarily retain and appropriately transfer contours acquired from time to time in use.

The principal object of the present invention is. to provide a contour transfer device of this type, whose construction and arrangement of parts is such that the fingers or feelers can be securely and simultaneously locked in place along a given contour. Other important objects are to provide a device which is simple, convenient and durable, as well as relatively inexpensive.

A common field of usefulness of this tool is in making a record of the contour of an irregular body such as an automobile fender so that this record can be used as a templet in forming duplicates of the contour of such irregular body.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 represents a front elevation;

Fig. 2, a top plan;

Fig. 3, an end elevation;

Fig. l, a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5, a cross-section taken on the line 55 in Fig. 4-;

Fig. 6, a top' plan corresponding to Fig. l;

Figs. 7 and 8, front elevations, drawn to a reduced scale, to show the method of using the tool; and

Fig. 9, an alternative arrangement of locking means.

Referring to the drawing: the numeral l6 denotes a feeler or finger of which any desired numher are mounted side by side in a holder l l. The fingers are preferably arranged along a common axial plane represented in Figs. 2 and 3 by the line l2.

As illustrated, a plurality of feelers or fingers H] are mounted in the holder ll, so that each finger is independently slidable in the holder. The holder consists preferably of an outer tubular member ll a and an inner tubular member lib, the two tubular members being telescoped and having a slight longitudinal movement with respect to each other, along the axial plane l2. The outer tubular member has openings l4, each of which normally is in substantially exact axial alignmentv with a corresponding opening l3 in the inner tubular member. In the normal position, the fingers l0 are freely sl idable through the openings hltand l3.

By moving the tubular membersv lla andv llb axially of each other to the proper slight degree, the fingers are collectively locked tightly in place. This. simultaneous locking is accomplished as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6 where an edge l3a of each hole I3, is. pressed tightly against. the. corresponding finger It to cause it to bear against an edge lea. of the corresponding opening I 4;. In the present illustration, the relative slight movement between the, tubular members Ma. and; l lb is accomplished by a pressure-exerting device such as a screw l5, threaded, for example, in the head lie of the outer tube lla.

In using the device,the normal position of the fingers. is such that the lower tips are disposed as shown, for example, Fig. l. Ordinarily, when the tool is held vertically; the fingers drop into the position of Fig. by gravity, yet it is often desirable that apositive yielding force be applied to each finger, for exampla by means of a helical compression spring such as is exemplified at. l5; In either case, a key I! is provided to limit the downward travel of each finger.

Assuming now that the screw I5 is loose so as to leave the fingers l0 free to. move upwardly when pressure is applied to the lower tips. Upon application of the tool, for example, to an ordinary fender l8, Fig. 7, the consecutive fingers Ill will be moved into positions where the fingers collectively contact the curvature of the fender so thatby tightening the screw l5, the tubes lla and H11 are moved into the relative position where the fingers are locked in the respective positions of Fig. '7. Thus, a definite graphic record, determined and recorded by the lower extremities of the fingers, is made, for example, of the curved contour of a fender that is not distorted. This graphically recorded contour can then be applied to a crumpled or distorted fender lBa as illustrated in Fig. 8, whereupon the workman is enabled to bring the injured fender to substantially the exact contour of the one that is uninjured.

While the device of the invention is extensively used in the restoration of wrecked automobile fenders, many other uses will readily occur to those skilled in the arts to which the invention is applicable.

The substantially concentric, axial arrangement of the tubular elements, which are advantageously of circular cross-section, makes possible an economical, mechanically clean-cut construction of the invention that finds ready acceptance among users of tools of the class to which the invention belongs.

It is to be particularly observed that in the present device the clamping pressure for locking the fingers, is applied axially, that is to say, longitudinally of the supporting structure, instead of transversely, as has been common in devices of the prior art. Also, by spacing the fingers along the axial line of the tubular members of the holder, all the fingers are simultaneously locked in a positive and secure manner by a single operative movement of the pressure-applying member of the clamping assembly.

The all-inclusive axial looking or clamping action upon the fingers is particularly clear in Fig. 6, where the space between the points l3a. and I4 represents the difference in diameters of the fingers I9 and the holes in the two telescoping tubes. This difierence may be just sufficient to allow the fingers to slip freely through the respective holes in the unlocked or released position of the members. For convenience, the fingers are shown in cross-section in Fig. 6.

As an alternative of the construction of Fig. 4, that shown in Fig. 9 contemplates a screw I9 which is integral with the head 20 of inner tube I Id. The screw I9 passes freely through a hole 2I in the head 22 of outer tube Ilc and is provided with a wing nut 23. By means of the wing nut 23, which bears against head 22, forcible axial motion is imparted to inner tube Hit in a direction opposite to that of inner tube IIb in Fig. 4.

In general, the locking effect upon the fingers, in both Figs. 4 and 9 is similar. However, in the case of the alternative construction of Fig. 9, the points of contact I31: and Ma of Fig. 4 would be located upon the respective opposite sides of the fingers, that is to say, would be reversed.

In Fig. 4 it is assumed that the screw I has been tightened, thereby clamping the fingers In between the two tubular members Na and Ill) as aforesaid. Now, when I5 is unscrewed, the fingers, unless means is provided to prevent it, drop, and hang loosely in holder I I. Such means, in the present instance, consists of a compression spring 24, Fig. 4, the tension of which reacts between the respective heads of tubular members Ma and III). This tension serves to cause the tubular member to grasp fingers II] and to hold them frictionally the moment screw I5 is sufliciently loosened to allow the contacts between the respective tubular members and the fingers to be reversed from the contacting posi- -er is substantially instantaneous.

tions I3a and Ma illustrated in Fig. 4. It is to be understood that the clearance spaces I3 and I4 preferably are small enough so the reversal transition from one set of contacts to the oth- In the reversal of contacts as last above touched upon, the fingers are yieldingly held as soon as they come under the influence of the tension of spring 24, it being clear that this tension should be great enough to counteract the action of springs I5. When so yieldingly held, any desired further adjustment of an individual finger is easily accomplished by tapping it, for example, by means of an ordinary hammer.

The fragmentary showing of springs I6 in Figs. 1, 7 and 8, is a matter of convenience.

Obviously, the lower extremities of the fingers l0 may be pointed, rounded, fitted with rubber tips, or otherwise suitably fashioned, as may be suitable for different classes of work. However, such specific features form no part of the invention and therefore need not be illustrated.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with respect to presently preferred specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood that various changes may be made therein and various other forms may be constructed on the basis of the teachings hereof, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the protective scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A contour transfer device extending longitudinally, comprising an outer annular casing having an inner annular surface; another annular casing which is inside the first-mentioned annular casing and having an outer annular surface in close contact with said inner annular surface; and a plurality of fingers slidable transversely through both said casings.

HOMER G. COOPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,019,923 Schelter Mar. 12, 1912 1,830,648 Engel Nov. 3, 1931 2,163,938 Dickson June 27, 1939 2,266,457 Wolif Dec. 16, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,167 England 1873 75,362 Austria Feb. 25, 1919 

